In January, Governor Brown released his 2017-18 budget proposal which continues Cal MediConnect and Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS). The State and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) are committed to increasing and improving the coordination of care for dual-eligible individuals.

Below please find the answers to some commonly asked questions about how the budget might impact the Coordinated Care Initiative, Cal MediConnect and MLTSS.

What to Expect

• The Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI) and Cal MediConnect (CMC) will continue in 2017.
• You will not see any change in your coverage. Anyone eligible will continue to have the option of joining a Cal MediConnect health plan.
• That’s exciting news because recent evaluation data shows high satisfaction and low hospitalization rates among Cal MediConnect members.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the state budget impact my Cal MediConnect coverage?
No, the state budget does not impact your Cal MediConnect coverage. You will not see any changes to your coverage in 2017. You won’t see any changes to your IHSS services- only its funding won’t flow through managed care plans anymore.

I heard that the Cal MediConnect program is going away. Is that true?
No, it is not true. Cal MediConnect is not ending. The State of California fully supports the Cal MediConnect program and it will continue. This means your Cal MediConnect coverage does not change. Cal MediConnect and MLTSS will continue as they are today.

So then, what is changing?
IHSS services you receive and how they are provided to you will not change. Eventually, the way the cost for IHSS is split between the state and counties will change, and it will return to being a Medi-Cal fee-for-service benefit as it has been historically.

If IHSS will no longer be a health plan benefit, will I lose my IHSS?
No. The IHSS program will not change – counties will continue to conduct assessments and determine hours. You will also continue to receive your authorized hours and manage your IHSS caregiver.

Who can I contact about my IHSS?
You can call your county IHSS office, just like you do today.

Will the program still be called the CCI?
Yes. At this time, the state does not have any plans to change the name of the program.

Do/will I have to change doctors again?
No. None of your benefits or health plan options are changing.

Will my Cal MediConnect care coordinator still be able to help me with IHSS issues?
Yes. If you like, your care coordinator will still be able to work together with your IHSS social worker and/or provider to give you the best care possible.